He was born March 8, 1928, the son of William Simmie Honea and Clair Hansel Honea, and was the last surviving member of a family of six sons and two daughters. Bill grew up in Copiah County in the Martinsville community. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945, shortly after his 17th birthday, before he was able to graduate from high school. World War II ended in August of that year, about the time he finished his basic training.
Bill had a career of over 50 years in highway construction as the owner of a paving company and working for other large contractors across the Southeast. He held several patents for bridge construction forms and was widely known as a problem-solver and trouble-shooter in the industry. Many of the large interstate highway bridges in the South were built under his supervision.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, and his wife, Mary Juanita Eaton Honea, in 2014.
He is survived by three children: Karen Armstrong (Paul) and Janet Turner of Brandon, MS, and Michael Honea (Doris) of Minden, LA. Seven grandchildren also survive: Carey Turner (Amanda) and Jonathan Turner (Natalie) of Panama City, FL; Will Armstrong (Kristie) and Katie Armstrong Mitchell (Travis) of Brandon, MS; John Honea (Lindsey) of Columbia, TN; Matt Honea (Christy) of Haughton, LA; and Sarah Armstrong Hutsler (Lee) of Austin, TX. Sixteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter also survive. He also leaves behind a special friend, Vivian Towry.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Tracey Floyd and her staff at Plain View Assisted Living and to the staff of Home Care Hospice.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Thursday, August 1, 2019, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl with burial in Crestview Memorial Gardens in Brandon. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 2:00 PM. Pall-bearers will be Carey Turner, Will Armstrong, John Honea, Jonathan Turner, Matt Honea, Austin Turner, and Travis Mitchell.
